Junction-box for manholes.



No. 634,3al. Patented oct. 3, |899.

- J. w. TURNER.

JUNCTIONBOX FOR MANHOLES.

(Application led uy 7, 899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 No. e34,3a|. Patented uct. 3, |399.

- J. w. TURNER.

JUNCTION BOX FOR MANHDLES.

(Application tiled July 17, 1899.)

3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IVI'IITTIER TURNER, OF NEIV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

JUNCTION-BOX FOR IVIANHOLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,381, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed .Tuly 1'7, 1899. Serial No. 724,173. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it lltttg/ concer/t:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH WHITTIEE TUR- NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Junction-Boxes for Manholes 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains t make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in manhole covers and junction-boxes for use in4 connection with underground electric con-y duits, such as are commonly constructed along the line of thoroughfares in large cities.

My invention has for its special object the providing of such a junction-box and cover to be fitted into the manhole in such manner as to render the interior of the junctionboX accessible at all times irrespective as to whether the manhole be full of water or not, and, furthermore, to provide for making connections with the interior of the junction-box from the interior of the manhole.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure l represents a central vertical section through a j unction-boX constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top View, partly in plan and partly in section, or the same. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. et. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4L 4: in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a general top plan view, partly in section, showing the arrangement of the manhole-cover and the j nnctionbox. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the water-tight joint between the inner cover of the box and its seat, with the cross-sectional form of the packing-gasket used; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the gasket.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, A represents the shell or body of the junction-box, the same being shown as square in cross-section, having side flanges a, adapted to rest upon beams B, for supporting the box in the manhole. The box Alias an enlarged upper portion A', provided poses, as seen most clearly in Fig. l..

'with an interior shoulder a2, upon which is fitted the inner cover A2, as hereinafter described, and a shoulder a0, upon which rests the outer cover A0, the latter being upon the level of the street and provided with ribs ax upon its under side for strengthening pur- The inner cover A2 is securely fastened in position vby means of screw-studs a and removable nuts as, engaging said screw-studs. A rubber gasket a4 is also tted between the edge of the cover A2 and its seat for rendering the closure water-tight. with a beveled vertical portion d, upon which the beveled edge of the cover A2 bears when in position, and being drawn down by the nuts a3 engaging the screw-studs a wedges outwardly on said portion d, making a close joint.

As seen in Fig. 6, the bevel of the upright portion di of the gasket a4 is less than the bevel of the edge ot' the cover A2 to avoid eX- cessive disten tion of the web portion a when the cover is tightened, and the inner edge of the gasket is provided with a raised rib d10, which becomes compressed by the cover when the latter is tightened. This construction of gasket a4, besides making a doubly-tight joint, prevents the accumulation of water or foreign matter between the edges of the cover and the inner wall of the box, as' will be obvious.

'A3 represents a nut which has exterior screw-threads engaging in a screw-threaded opening in the center of the cover A2 and interior screw-threads for the engagement of a detachable handle in removing the cover.

The bottom of the box A is made sloping, preferably toward its center, as shown in Figs. l and 3, and is provided with a central screw-threaded opening fitted with a screwplug A4, having a square head c5 thereon for turning the same, the said plug being removable for the purpose of draining olf any water or moisture which may accumulate in the box A by reason of condensation, but when fitted in said opening to effectually close the same against the entrance ot water from the manhole should it rise sufficiently high to come in contact with the box A.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a box A6, hav- This gasket is formed IOO ing a circular forni, which is ordinarily preferably of the square form shown in Figs. l. and 2.

In the square forni (shown in Figs. l and 2) a suitable number of openings A7, fitted with water-tight tubular connections a7, are provided in oneor more sides of the box, near theboitdm thereof, for the entrance of the cables C from the conduits.

In the circular form of box (shown in Figs. 3 and t) a suitable number of openings A8 are providedin the bottom thereof, arranged in a circleLasshown in Eignet, or any other suitable manner, and fitted with screw-threaded tubular Water-tight connections as for the entry of the cables C. I do not, however, wish to limit myself to the arrangement of these openings in the side of the square box nor in the bottom of the circular box, as this arrangement may be varied in either case to suit conditions or as found most convenient.

D represents a hollow standard centrally mounted within the junction-box and secured in a fixed position by means of screw-bolts d' passing through flanges d on the bottom end of the standard D and engaging in screwthreaded openings in the bottom of the box.

'The said tubular standard is fitted immediately over and concentric with the central drain-opening in the bottom of the box; but in order to allow the free passagev of moisture to the said drain-opening the foot of the standard D is provided with a series of openings d", which allow communication with the drainopening, as seen most clearly in Figs. l and 3.

The upper end of the tubular standard D is provided With a circular flange D', upon which maybemountedtheeable connections. These may be of any suitable, convenient, or preferred form and arrangement; but for the sake of illustration I have shown in Figs. l and 2 an arrangement which has been put into practice. In these views, E represents copper or brass lugs having openings or sockets c in their under sides into which the cables C may be connected, and the said lugs EA are mounted upon blocks EX, of insulating material, supported upon the [iange D of the standard D, so as to be held out of electrical connection with the said standard.

E', E2, and E3 represent copper or brass bus-rings,7 being of alternately different polarity. Thus the top bus-ring El and the lower bus-ring E3 are each neutral, While the second or intermediate bus-ring E2 is positive. These bus-rings]7 so called, are insulated from each other and from the standard D by blocks E4,of insulating material, as seen most clearly in Fig. l. The several bus-rings have radial projections, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The lugs E are each provided with an elevated projection e for attachment of a fusible link or catch (not herein shown) which I use to connect each lug to the corresponding bus-ring projection and so make or sever electrical connections with any individual cable entering the manhole junction-box. Thus the set of cables entering the manhole from any direction can be connected in the junction-box to the lug E nearest that direction, making it very convenient for a person to locate any particular cable on opening the box.

In Iiig. 5 I have shown the usual manner of arranging the junction-box in the manhole. In this iigure, H may represent the cover of a manhole proper, and I may represent the cover of the junction-box, or vice versa, the shape of the junction-box or of the entrance to the manhole being immaterial; but for thesake of illustration it will be assum ed that H represents the cover of the manhole proper and I represents the cover of the junction-box. Thus entrance may be had to the manhole by removing the cover H, and so the cables or Wires may be introduced into the junction-box from the interior of the manhole, while access may be had to the junctionbox independent of conditions existing within the manhole, Which may be partially or completely full of Water.

The junction-box is preferably arranged to one side of the manhole, as shown in Fig. 5; but it may be arranged centrally thereof, and the entrance to the manhole may be to one side thereof. This will of course depend upon the existing condition, and I do not limit myself to the exact relative arrangement of the manhole-cover and the junction-box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an underground electrical system, the

combination with a manhole; of a junctionbox supported in the upper portion of said manhole, having wire connections accessible from the interior of the manhole, and provided with a cover allowing access to its interior from the exterior of the manhole, substantially as described.

2. In an underground electrical system, the combination with a manhole; of a junctionbox supported in the upper portion thereof and opening upon the street-level; a Watertight cover for said junction-box, said box having connections for the Wires accessible from the interior of the manhole,and a drainopening in the bottom of said junction-box fitted With a Water-tight closure, substantially as described.

3. In an underground electrical system, the combination with a manhole having an entrance-opening provided with a removable cover; of a junction-box supportedin the said manhole to one side thereof, having openings for entrance-Wires Within the manhole, and having its top opening directly upon the surface ofthe street; and a water-tight cover for said junction-box independent of the manhole-cover, substantially as described.

e. In an underground electrical system, the combination with a manhole With which the conduits connect, and a removable cover for said manhole; of a junction-box mounted in the upper portipn of said manhole, having IOO IIO

therein provided with a Water-tight closure; of

a hollow tubular standard` mounted over said drain-opening and provided with passages leading to said drainbpening, said standard to serve as support for the cable connections, substantially as described.

6. In a junction-box for underground eleotrioal systems, the Combination with a shell or ease, having a Water-tight cover and openings at or near its bottom for passage of wires to the interior thereof; and having a central drain-opening fitted within a water-tight olosure; of ahollow tubular standard mounted centrally Within said shell over said drainopening and provided with openings about said drain-opening, anda cireulariiange upon the upper end of said standard as a support for the cable connections, substantially as described.

7. In a junction-box for underground eleotrieal systems, the combination with a shell or ease, having openings for passage of wires to the interior thereof; and having` a central drain-opening fitted within a Water-tight olosure; of a hollow tubular standard mounted centrally Within said shell over said drainopening and provided with openings about said drain-opening, said standard serving as a support for the cable Connections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH XVHITTIER TURNER.

iVitnesses:

GABRIEL L. PASCAL, JOHN J. SAUCIER. 

